Blowing apparatus



June 22 192.6.

- v 1,589,888 c. w. LuMMls BLOWING APPARATUS Original Filed May l, 192,2

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W'. LUMMIS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 MORGAN CON- STRUCTION COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

BLOWING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 1, 1922, Serial The present invention relates to blowing or blastl producing apparatus of the induction type, where a liuid under pressure, such as steam, is caused by its discharge, in jet torni, to suck in and impart velocity and pressure t0 another lluid, such as air, and where gradual expansion ot the resulting mixed current convertis the velocity thereol into static pressure.

Blowing apparat-us oit this type, wherein two lluids, one the pumping tluid and the other the liuid pumped, are brought into adn'iixture, has a variety of uses; for example, to supply the blast of air and steam which supports combustion in a gas producer. For purposes of illustration, the blowing apparatus of the present invention is shown in connection with a gas producer, and in the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view ot a gas producer so equipped.

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged views, in longitudinal and transverse sections respectively, o't the blowing apparatus proper.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view ot one oi the nozzles for the pumping fluid.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line .ri-5, Fig. 2.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the dilierent figures.

In previous adaptations in this type ot blowing apparatus, whether of single or of multiple nozzle construction, the excessive length required for the gradual expansion that takes place has operated as a handicap; tor example, in a gas producer blower as disclosed in the patent to Jefferies No. 1,170,070, dated February l, 1916, the practice hitherto has required an extremely long connection trom the blower nozzle or nozzles to the producer, in order to provide adequately and properly lor 'the expansion phase of the characteristic Venturi action. 'lhis excessive length ot expansion tube takes up a great amount ol valuable space, and requires the blowing device itselt to be located at a considerable distance trom the producer or other piece ot apparatus which is to be supplied with a current o'l mixed gaseous iiuids under pressure; 'lurH hermore, in such a construction the losses trom condensation of steam are very large, because ot the great length ot the expansion tube and the large area thereof which is exposed to the air.

No. 557,724. Renewed October 9, 1925.

The present invention contemplates a con struction ot blowing apparatus wherein the above diliiculties and disadvantages are overcome.. instead oit the usual single Venturi construction, with the large throat and long expansion tube heretofore used either with one or with a plurality of nozzles tor the pumping fluid, the present invention employs a plurality of small and compactly arranged Venturi tubes, in each ot which is handled and expanded, independently, a portion oi' the total quantity oi' blast to be produced.

As shown in Fig. 2, the apparatus ot the present invention provides a suitable casing 2, inclosing an air chamber 3 in communication with a plurality of separate parallel Venturi tubes 4, 4, here shown as tour in number, arranged in an annular series about the axis ol casing 2. Each Venturi tube 4 has a gradually contracting approach portion 5, a throat portion G, and an expansion portion 7.

In conjunction with each Venturi tube 4, the invention contemplates the use of a plurality ot closely grouped steam nozzles 10, 10, all ot the usual expanding type, as depicted in Fig. 4. The several groups or nozzles 10, l0 are supplied from a common steam box 11 carried by the casing 2, and connected by pipe l2 to a source of steam supply. The several nozzles 10, 10 of each group are arranged parallel to each other Aand to the axis ot their associated small Venturi tube 4. The several small Venturi tubes 4, 4 discharge into a common blast tube 8, which is adapted to confine the one large current or stream that is formed by the confluence ot the several independent small streams issuing from these small Venn turi tubes 4, 4. lVith reference to the amount. ot air handled, the expansion portion 7 o'l' each small Venturi tube 4, is ot sufficient length to virtually complete the desired conversion ot' its streams velocity into static pressure, lor it. is a characteristic ot Venturi construction that the angle or taper by which the diameter ot the expansion portion gradually increases is practically a constant, regardless of the throat diameter or size. For that reason, the present construction, wherein the total quantity oit blast to be handled and expanded is apportioned between a. plurality of small closely grouped Venturi tubes, permits of the saine degree o i expansion heing obtained in ay much shorter distance than Would he required in a single large Venturi tuhe havingl a throat area equal to the combined areas of the tour small throats 6, (i. VWith no necessity therefore Ytor an elongated expansion tube, the blowing apparatus, as shoun in Fig. l. can he constructed practically as a part ot the gas producer or other mechanism to which it. is applied,-and tor the most part acually containeiil Within the saine. As shown in Fig. l, the hlmver in its entirety is supported hv and projects Within the usual water seal pan l of the producer, here shown as ot any conveiitional construction.

The small streams issuing at relatively low velocity, hut with high static pressure trom the individual vventuri tubes Ll, 4 and in to the common blast tube S, are here shoivn as of circular' torni, hut it is to he understood that the invention is not limited to this or any other form; whatever the torni, it is clear that the merging oit these small strean'is into a single large current would naturally create some tend uicy For eddy and cross currents to form` due to lthe voids and dead spaces lettl unfilled. To prevent any such action, the ends ot the expansion portions 7, 7 of the small tubes may he flared to extend for varying distances into the hlast tube 8, as shown in Figs. 2 and ln this way, practically the same rate ot expansion tor each individual small stream is maintained, even after it issues from its venturi fl, and until it merges with the adjoining streams. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the outwardly Haring tapered extensions 9, 9 so employed to guide and conline the individual small streams, as they pass into blast tuhe after leaving their respective venturis il, 4i, entirely till the voids of various sizes which would otherwise exist. as the result ot merging aV number otl small streams into a single large stream. extensions 9, 9 in all cases the same, and as a consequence, their projection into the hlast tube 8 is highly irregular, reaching its maximum distance tor the large voids near the periphery ot' the casing and its mininnun distance :tor the small voids hetiveen the individual streams, with a `great variety of intermediatcr heights or distances, as shown. ln connection with each small Venturi tuhe 4i, the several parallel nozzles 10, l0 associated therewith are so closely coinpacted as to insure the issuance ot all ot the steam jets ot said group Within an area, not larger than that ot throat portion 6. 'ifhc n'iaintenance of j'iarallelism avoids interference etiveen adjacent jets, and the restriction olI each group ot jets to the throat arca avoids entirely the losses ot energy incident to the in'ipingement and del'lection of the jets against: the approach portion 5 ol' `the venturi.

The angle or taper of these` matassa icon io this, as shoun in s, the clics o if ali the noir/les it) ot cach group ai d are disposed in close proximity to the throat (i ot the venturi, this arrangement, hy prerenting an;Y substantial hrealting up oiy thc jets in ainance ot the throat (5, leaves the nay cleo.' tor the naninnun iuliow ot air. 'gli velocity, through approach portion id, in conjunction vvith the other specilied ieaturcs olf he iilou'er construction, op crates as a rontrihuting taclcr to increase thc air handling apacity olf the apparatus.

frs shown in Figs. s i3, the entrance to chamber 3 is hy way ot openings .-i, lo in a stationary bottom plate lit; coopc ating therewith is a movahle plate l5, naving openings lo, lo adapted to register with the openings lo, i3. loth sets or openings 'ji and .i213 have their edges rounded, as shown in Y o, so that the approach and disrhav're r these air inlets is attended sith a- .mum ol noise, when the plate l5 in wine open position. ln order to eliminate the necessity tor throttling these air inld's (under which rendition a certain amount oi" noise would inevitably he prod ced), the invention contemplates a construction vfhich permits variation in the proportion ot air and steam in the producer hlast with( disturbing the air inlet. rl`his is accomplished hy the use ot a steam hypass pipe t." vvhich leads Vl'rom the hor; ll lo a plurality olf' discharge orifices lo ncar the hlon'er outlet. Vifiie hy-pass li is equipped with a valve l) tor regulating the quantity et steam discharged through it, and uy 'the adjustment of this valve may he determined the proportion ot extra steam added lo the. lilast under various conditions ot operation. Iilthough the resistance to the lilast coliuiui, hy this increase in its quantity, is made slightly greater, the eilect is counteracied hy the aspiration produced on said r'oliimn, dac to the velocity ot the steam as i, issues il'roni the orilices 18.

rille exceedingly compact arrangement oit the appi alus makes it easy to adapt and apply te a 'was producer or other mecha nisni, with a total ahscncc olf er-:pane-.fion tuhingv exposed lo the air.

l claim,

i. n blowing apparatus, the con'ihination Wi th Y"cnturi tuhe 'for propelling and propelled iluids the inlet oi said tuiie lining in communication with an open chanilier routainingjn'opelled id, oi" means lor introducing the p ijniellinpj lluid into the approach portion or said lnlie in a ,l up o'tf non-impii'igiug jets, which jets issue entirely within the area ot the Venturi throat a iter being contined through a major part ot the length ot' Vthe approach portion ol the tulie.

2. En hier g npparat/us, the romhiuaiiou ivith a Venturi tulie Ator propelling` and propelled fluids, the inlet ot said tuhe lining in 'i lil llil connnunicatimi with an open chamber containing propelled Vfluid, ot a group oi nozzles extending toward the throat oit said tube for the major part oit the length ol the approach portion ii'or introducing the propelling fluid in jets issuing unobstructially entirely witlr in the area et the throat ot the tube.

3. in blowing apparatus, the combination with a Venturi tube jn'oviding a contracting a'iiproach portion in comnuinication with a chamber open to the atmosphere and a throat portion, of a. plurality ol steam nozzles extending into said throat portion for the major part ot its length, said nozzles being grouped to discharge jets entirely within the area ot the said throat portieri and without impingement on the walls ot said approach portion.

4l. A blower comprising a number of parallel closely grouped Venturi tubes, whose inlet and outlet ends terminate in connnon passages, with nozzles extending into the approach portion oi each tube tor a major part ot' the length oit said portion, said nozzles being adapted to discharge a propelling medium entirely within the area o't the. throat portion ot each tube and without impingement on the walls ot the appreach portion. Y

$3. ln blowing apparatus, a Venturi tube having its inlet in communication with an open air chamber, in conibination with a plurality ot steam nozzles, so grouped that the jets issuing therefrom are non-unpluging, and unobstructed by the approach portion ot said tube, said nozzles having their ends nearer to the throat portion ot said tube, than to the inlet ot said approach por tion.

lln the production ot a blast column having low velocity and high static pressure, through the Venturi. expansion o't mixed propelling and propelled i'luids, the iinprovenient which consists in dividing the expansion o'i said fluids between a plurality o't parallel closely grouped Venturi tubes, in each oli which a portion oli said iliuids is brought independently to the approxiniate velocity and pressure conditiiins required l'or said blast column.

T. lin the production ol a blast column ha ving` low velocity and high static pressure, through the Venturi expansion ot' mixed propelling and propelled fluids, the improvement which consists in dividing the expansion ot said fluids between a plurality of parallel closely grouped Venturi tubes, and combining the issuing columns at the exits o't said tubes in a single column wherein the approximate velocity and pressure conditions reached iu said individual tubes are substaiitially maintained.

Si. in blowing apparatus, the combination with a plurality ot steam jets tor inducing the Vlow oil air in arlmixture with the issuing steam, of a. by-pass 'tor increasing the proportion of steam in said mixture, without change in the quantity of air induced.

9. In blowing apparatus, a Venturi tube having its inlet in communication with an open air chamber, in con'ibination with a group of non-impinging steam jets i'or the entrainment ot air through said tube, said jets issuing nearer to the throat portion ot said tube than to the inlet of the approach portion, whereby said jets are maintainer intact until they reach the throat portion.

l0. In blowing apparatus ot the class described, the combination with a plurality et expansion tubes for the production ot separate columns of propelling and jiropelled iiui'ds, whose velocity by expansion in said tubes is converted into static pressure, and a common blast tube 'for combining said columns after expansion into a single pressure stream, oi' means for discharging the propelling fluid into each tube in a group of non-impinging jets, said jets issuing in close proximity to and within the area ot the throat of each tube.

l1. In blowing apparatus of the class described, the combination with a plurality of Venturi tubes, each open to the atmosphere at its inlet end, and adapted tor the production or' separate columns of air and steam whose velocity is converted into static pressure by expansion in said tubes, and a common blast tube Ylor combining said columns after expansion into a single pressure stream, ot' a group of steam nozzles having their ends in close proximity to the throat of each tube so that the jets issue therefrom wholly within the area of the throat and without impingement.

12. Blowing apparatus of the class described fer the production oil a. blast column of mixed propelling and propelled Fluids, having relatively high static pressure and low velocity, and comprising a plurality of parallel closely grouped Venturi tubes, nozzles for the discharge ot propelling fluid into the approach portions ot each ol said tubes, thereby to entertain the propelled lluid therethrough, and a combining tube common to the delivery ends of all et said Venturi tubes, in which combining tube the pressure and velocity conditions produced in said Venturi tubes are substantially maintained.

13. Blowing apparatus of the class described for the production of a column of propelling and propelled lluids under relatively high static pressure but with low velocity, and comprising' a blast tube for said column, and a plurality of parallel closely grouped Venturi tubes discharging directly into said blast tube, each of said Venturi tubes adapted to expand a portion ot the mixture of propelling and propelled fluids to substantially the same conditions ol pressure :ind Velocity als those which prevail in tubes is substmitially eonveltetl into stuie Suid blast tube. pressure, und u'ieens for eoinbining` the. indilet. In blowing' apparatus of the class devidual columns issuing from said tubes into 10 scribed, a pluralityv o'l steuin nozzles und asu single st'ifeain wherein velocity and pressociutetl T-i/Yeiuuri tubes, fur the production sure einnlitiuus pi'e'vuiling` at the exits 0l said ot uV plurality of sepui'ute columns Ot uil' und tubes :ire substantially maintained.

steam, whose Velocity by expansion in Suid CHARLES lV. LUMMIS. 

